This year’s Kirkstall Festival followed a theme of heroes and heroines to celebrate the incredible community spirit shown in Kirkstall following the Boxing Day floods which left parts of Kirkstall Road under several feet of water.

In his programme notes, festival chair John Liversedge said this year’s event was an emotional one following the death of February of festival stalwart Ken Stratford and dedicated the event to him. Mr Liversedge wrote:

“The community work Ken did in the Kirkstall area – not just with the festival – is well known to many and I could not begin to list the things Ken was involved with.

“Suffice to say Ken was well known, well respected and well loved by all who knew him and his presence is with us today.This, our 36th festival, is dedicated to Kenny.”